European Researchers Night 2024
European Researchers’ Night returned on September 27th, and IPFN once again had a strong presence. Researchers José Vicente, Filipe da Silva, Jorge Santos, António Silva, and Jorge Ferreira presented the activity 'Simulations of Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas' at the National Museum of Natural History and Science, one of the many venues where the 2024 edition took place in Lisbon.
The activity involved small demonstrations, such as plasma balls, to introduce the public to fundamental concepts related to plasmas, nuclear fusion, and the propagation of electromagnetic waves. These demonstrations aimed to contextualize the global effort to develop future nuclear fusion reactors, with the goal of generating electrical energy.
A key part of this effort focuses on the use of reflectometry, a technique based on radar-like instruments, to monitor and control the behaviour of plasmas. The researchers also presented 2D and 3D visualisations generated from numerical simulations of electromagnetic wave propagation in plasmas. These simulations are crucial for developing reflectometry instruments for use in current experimental fusion devices and future reactors.
European Researchers' Night, which annually attracts over 1.5 million visitors across Europe, continues to be a vital event for bringing science closer to the public and sharing the impact of scientific advancements on everyday life.
